Strad Fest LA showcases eight Stradivarius violins

Eight of Stradivarius’s best known violins were showcased in Los Angeles at the end of March as part of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s Strad Fest LA event.

The eight instruments were the ‘Serdet’ Strad of 1666, the 1708 ‘Ruby’, the 1711 ‘Kreisler’, the 1720 ‘Beechback’, the 1714 ‘Leonora Jackson’, the 1715 ‘Titian’, the 1716 ‘Milstein’ and the 1720 ‘Red Mendelssohn’ violin. This was the first time these instruments – valued at over US$25 million collectively – had been displayed together.

The violins were showcased in a series of solo and chamber performances. Among the violinists taking part were Cho-Liang Lin; Philippe Quint; Chee-Yun; Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra leader Margaret Batjer; principal leader of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Martin Chalifour; and Xiang Yu.